Mostra Mercato Nazionale delle Forbici e dei Coltelli — Lam'Arte

Frosolone, Italy's capital of blades

Frosolone, a Borgo Bandiera Arancione (Orange Flag town) in the province of Isernia (Molise), is the only center in Southern Italy specializing in steel processing for knives and scissors. A tradition that, according to scholars, dates back to the Lombard era. It is here that every August, since 1996, the National Exhibition Market of Scissors and Knives, also known as Lam'Arte, comes to life.

The art blades market

For a few days, the alleys of the historic center are filled with stalls and workshops: over thirty exhibitors, cutlers, and blacksmiths from all over Italy display and sell collectible knives, Damascus blades, scissors, and cutting tools. Alongside the market, two thematic paths animate the village: the Island of Blades, dedicated to the art of cutlery, and the Island of Taste, reserved for local flavors.

A living tradition, between demonstrations and protection

The event intertwines with the Forging Festival, during which masters recreate a traditional workshop in the square and show live how a blade is made. In recent years, the event has returned to the center of national debate due to the repercussions of the security decree on knife sales, an issue closely monitored by local institutions to protect a unique artisanal sector in Southern Italy.

Why it's worth the trip

Visiting Lam'Arte means discovering a rare craft in its authentic context: not an anonymous fair, but an entire town that has lived by steel and blades for centuries. For cutlery enthusiasts, it is one of the unmissable Italian events of the summer.